As a Canadian I'm embarrassed by all these Harper-bashers and this article only feeds their need to spew out uninformed rantings. Parliament is only missing about 20 additional sitting days as the result of being prorogued. That's nothing after decades of being ineffectual. If proroguing allows parliament to reset with more effective committee structures and eventually results in a reformed Senate that is elected rather stacked with patronage hacks, then Harper will have instituted the most productive legislative change in Canada since the signing of NAFTA. Enough of governments stuck in the 1800's ... it's nice to have someone with vision at the helm again.

Thank you for writing this article. It has been well received here in Canada.

The lack of viable alternative on the political right, in Canada, has formed a toxic voter bloc for the right. Unfortunately, many fiscally conservative voters are being forced to vote for a social conservative party. With this last move, Prime Minister Harper has alienated the economic conservatives.

It is a pity that Peter Mackay betrayed his party (the Progressive Conservative) with merging with the, now defunct, Reform/Alliance party. If Mr. Mackay had the political foresight, he would have been able to see the folly of mixing a mainly fiscally conservative party with a socially conservative party.

Perhaps, the unification of the right has actually hurt the party.
I wish the Progressive Conservatives were still around Federally.
Dreams may come true, but it will take a grassroots effort to get the PC party back. However, if the PC's do not move quickly they will be overtaken by the Wild Rose party and then both the PC's and the Conservative party will have the same problem as the left in Canada - being split into three.

@Inkyone: You've hit the nail on the head. Harper's growing sense of egomania and contempt for the parliamentary process are beyond lamentable and suggest exactly what you (and I and many other Canadians) fear: a desire to re-style Canada into a sycophantic, U.S. Republican state where everything is decided by lobbyists and politicians can no longer be held accountable by the general public. His fear of allowing a minority coalition government and his disinformation campaign against such an outcome speaks volumes about how Canada under him has slowly morphed into a country that takes more and more of its cues from south of the border. People like Flaherty, Baird, Day, Dona et al in Harper's cabinet, like the PM himself, are just as The Economist describes them. It's a lamentable time to be a Canadian.

And this whole mess also brings to mind another question: What on earth is going on in the head of GG Michaelle Jean? She seems far more interested in her constant stream of photo opps than in helping guide Canada past the rocky shoals on which Harper seems intent to beach the entire country. Pathetic.

Well there you have it, say one bad thing about Harper and the Canadian right lables you a leftist rag (or rug in some cases). Harper says he doesn't want an election, so what exactly does he want? Does he really expect that his minority government will be able to act in a more autonomous manner as a result of prorogation? Prorogation was used here and now to dodge issues, letting Harper coast by until the opposition calls what will be an unpopular election. I would also like to point out the irony behind right wingers blasting unionized workers for striking, yet not minding at all when Harper decides to give your paid and elected politicians an extra month off. Whatever your views on the matter there is something amiss here.

This prorogation has absolutely zero impact on Canadians, although opponents may like to think it's an affront to our values. This whole nonsense that it's undermining democracy is totally ludicrous. Democracy is whatever the people make it to be. If folks dislike what's going on so much, then the opposition parties should force an election and oust the government... that's democracy in action, then use their newfound power to call public inquiries into whatever they wish.. simple. Until then, the PM can do as he pleases because that's the power that he has democratically been given.

Harper is nothing campared with the Queens and Kings sitting on the top at the Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. For years, these supposed agents or trustees paid with public money to run a public facility have taken a keen interest to become all sorts of program runners, and parasitized the host by innovativly exercising and stretching discretionary powers over who can do what in there, what piece of rescouce can be used for what purpose, etc etc.

Underneath these otherwise public-life enriching programs are quiet cashflows enriching whose and whose private pockets. The whole arrangement is beautifully neat, kind of like a private security enterprise within a public police station, or a car-wash shop within the facility of a fire department. Stephen Harper would have envied.

Harper is nothing campared with the Queens and Kings sitting on the top at the Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. For years, these supposed agents or trustees paid with public money to run a public facility have taken a keen interest to become all sorts of program runners, and parasitized the host by innovativly exercising and stretching discretionary powers over who can do what in there, what piece of rescouce can be used for what purpose, etc etc.

Underneath these otherwise public-life enriching programs are quiet cashflows enriching whose and whose private pockets. The whole arrangement is beautifully neat, kind of like a private security enterprise within a public police station, or a car-wash shop within the facility of a fire department. Stephen Harper would have envied.

The Economist today is not what it was 10 years ago. Now it is a standard leftist rug maybe one level better than the Guardian or the Toronto Star. Its reputation as a serious journal that looks at issues in a balanced way is fading. It has placed itself squarely in the leftist camp on range of issues from the AGW to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The whole artificial indignation about proroguing the Parliamentary Circus in Ottawa for 3 weeks as a danger to the parliamentary democracy is a red herring. All these that are condemning S. Harper would condemn him no matter what he does, so their opinion does not matter. The failed leadership of the liberal thinks that they found a “Gotcha” that will turn their faltering fortunes around. They can use the prorogation as an excuse to depose Harpers Government in the coming confidence vote on the Spring Budget.
If they think that the Canadian Public will turn over the keys to the Government to the leftist liberal clowns they will have a nasty surprise

I am very excited to read my fellow Canadians' comments on this article. I would like to offer them this though: I realize we are all fed up of the Conservatives prancing around like dictators but do not think that the Liberal party will act any differently.

We need some other choices to show these jokers that we WILL vote both these parties out!

Congratulations to for this item to the Economist. If only the Economist had been on top of the ball in Honduras one and a half years ago when Zelaya started dismissing congress in effect (would not approve bills nor send them back for further debate; did not table a budget and required by law--this was followed by threats against the lives of members of Congress). Whoever is responsible for Canada at the Economist should have the Latin America bureau pull up their socks and ensure consistency in calling these abuses of power/erosion of democracy throughout the hemisphere (good work on Venezuela and recently Nicaragua). By the way, why don't you dedicate an issue to looking at all the ways leaders are grabbing power--there is something desperately wrong at the executive level of many of the hemisphere's democracies (Ortega-stakcing the courts, end runs on constitutions, etc.). What gives? Cheerio!

I've been extremely unhappy with the behavior of each party's leadership in Ottawa for about the last 2-3 years. It always feels like a joke but for now it truly is. This is the most incompetent and immature bunch we have had run (oppositions included) this place in years, perhaps ever. Luckily this is Canada and things are fairly well in place would take much to undo. The buffoons we have in Ottawa at the moment however are making progress in this undesired direction, the only progress they are making at anything.

This comment is disingenuous: "[Harper] has confounded those who feared that he would impose his supporters' loathing of abortion and liking for the death penalty on a generally tolerant country."

He has a minority government. Any moves to change the law on these issues would be met with fierce opposition and bring an end to his governance. He knows this. That he hasn't acted on these issues says nothing about what he'd do if he ever led a majority government.

The Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan - 3rd Report:

"On Thursday, November 26, 2009, the Special Committee agreed to report the following motion:

That the Committee believes a serious breach of privilege has occurred and members’ rights have been violated, that the Government of Canada, particularly the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, have intimidated a witness of this Committee, and obstructed and interfered with the Committee's work and with the papers requested by this Committee.

Therefore this Committee reports the breach to the House so that it can consider the matter. "

It hss has been Mr Harper style.His role model has been George Bush.In many ways he has outbushed Bush himself.Sice becoming Canada's Prime Minister Harper has turned Canada upside down.In Foreign Ploicy he has coopted the much discredited NeoCons from the USA who have brought many needless wars.
Canada had a reputation of being a Middle Power ready to speak up against big power bullying.Canada in many ways was looked up by rest of the world(save USA,Israel and may be UK under Tony Blair) as a caring nation,Mr Harper you have been bad news for Canada!